Can someone identify this old racket?

[MaximRecoil]

Originally Posted by toddsullivan

Maximrecoil,
Would you be interested in selling your Spaulding smasher? I am the son of the inventor, paul sullivan, and I am putting a display case together to hold his rackets for his 72 b-day. I can't seem to find a first generation of this racket until I saw it here. Please let me know. Much appreciated, Todd

I'd rather not sell the racket, as I'm quite fond of it. However, there is one on **** right now which I assume you've already seen (Item number: 271116928694)

Is there some reason you don't want that one? Mine is the same as that one except for the grip size (which I wouldn't expect would matter for a racket only intended for display). Mine is also a "Smasher III" (that's what it says on the head cover), and also has the "S" integrated into the throat bridge. So like the one on ****, mine is probably not what you'd consider a "first generation". The early ones had a plain throat bridge without an "S", and I assume they didn't have a "III" after the name "Smasher", like so:



The reason I didn't know the model name of my Spalding racket when I first made this thread several years ago is because where it says "Smasher III" on the head cover is very faded, you can barely make it out if you look closely under good light, and I didn't notice it at the time (it is very faded on the one on **** too, must have been a problem with the type of ink they used to print that particular text).

Tell your father I said happy birthday and that I love his invention. By the way, does he know whether the aluminum was solid or hollow?

(note: for some reason this forum software automatically replaces the name of the famous online auction site with asterisks, but I'm sure you can figure out what I'm referring to)

[toddsullivan]

Thanks for responding!
I was under the impression that you had one without the "S" in the throat. I am trying to find an original one like in the photo you sent are you able to send a higher resolution image of that ad to toddsull at umich dot edu?

I will ask my dad about the solid vs hollow and get back to you.

[MaximRecoil]

Unfortunately I don't have a higher resolution picture than the one I posted.

[vwfye]

The inventor's son? Very cool! Happy Birthday to your father!

[coachrick]

Since the hairpin is a 'U' beam design, it's not 'hollow' like the Prince Pro or Yonex 7500; but each 'side' of the 'U' is a tubular design. I happen to have one with the butt cap and foam broken off..exposing the end of the hairpin. I can only imagine the swingweight and static weight if this were completely solid !

I played with the original squeaky, rattle-y, loose handle original version with the keystone shaped throat brace. K-Mart was kind enough to replace it when it broke after about two weeks. The replacement was the newer version with the 'S' throat brace and foam handle. The worse-than-Profected nylon strings lasted me less than a week and the grip not much longer. Dad was not happy with this $40 investment that cost another $10 in short order. IF we only knew!!! Good thing I went to work for a tennis shop about three years later!

I thought I was SOMEbody when I showed up with the Smasher instead of all the other shiny steel sticks the other kids had . Even made sure I used the Spalding Professional white balls(with colored seams) to assure harmony .

[toddsullivan]

My dad said, it was not solid but was a double hollow construction with a solid bar in the center. This made the racket lighter, more forgiving and more powerful than Connor's steel T2000.

[MaximRecoil]

Originally Posted by toddsullivan

My dad said, it was not solid but was a double hollow construction with a solid bar in the center. This made the racket lighter, more forgiving and more powerful than Connor's steel T2000.

Thanks for the information. The aluminum is definitely thicker-walled than most later aluminum rackets were. I like the extra heft. I think it is a great racket; it feels solid when you hit the ball, and has lots of control.